All Shall be Well: Explorations in Universal Salvation and Christian Theology, from Origen to Moltmann

by Gregory MacDonald (Editor)

Universalism runs like a slender thread through the history of Christian theology. Over the centuries Christian universalism, in one form or another, has been reinvented time and time again. In this book an international team of scholars explore the diverse universalisms of Christian thinkers from the Origen to Moltmann. In the introduction Gregory MacDonald argues that theologies of universal salvation occupy a space between heresy and dogma. The studies in this collection aim, in the first instance, to hear, understand, and explain the eschatological claims of a range of Christians from the third to the twenty-first centuries. They also offer some constructive, critical engagement with those claims.

Genres: Theology, History, Nonfiction

447 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Nicholas Quient · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately I read this far too quickly. The essays on George MacDonald and Origen are quite good. I must read this again.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Topic of the book is important but the way this book was constructed could have been better. Robin is presented both as an editor with his pen name Gregory McDonald and as one of the writers which is a bit odd. The fact that every historical universalist is presented by a different author and that their views of Christian universalism is is not always told makes the book confusing to read. It’s also hard to tell whether are we given all the facts of the person presented or is the writer telling his/her own views on universalism (often universalism is presented in a contradictory or in negative light).

I liked “Evangelical Universalist” a lot so this book was somewhat disappointing. Christian universalism was often presented as a marginal view (what it often is in evangelical church) and universalists themselves tended to be self-apolitical of their belief of a Loving God who eventually saves all. I would have liked that more convinced universalists would have been included as presenters of Christian Universalism in order to get a more coherent understanding why more and more people publicly (including Robin Parry) identify as Christian universalists.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book for my Systematic Theology II course under Dr. Jacob Lett.

I read the sections on the universalism of Origen (3rd cen. Church Father), Gregory of Nyssa (4th cen. Church Father), Julian of Norwich (14th cen. Roman Catholic), Alhanan Winchester (18th cen. Baptist/Universalist), Sergei Bulgakov (20th cen. Russian Orthodox), Karl Barth (20th cen. Reformed), some of J.A.T. Robinson (20th cen. Anglican), and Hans Urs von Balthasar (20th cen. Roman Catholic). In total, I read about 50% of the book. It was very interesting, and I gained a much better understanding of the approaches to universalism that each of these figures/theologians took and how they arrived at those conclusions from their theology (some were hopeful universalists, some were convinced universalists, and a few, like Barth, didn't seem to want to take a position). There were compelling elements in each one, and I will likely spend much more time wrestling with this subject of theology.

[W Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of essays, written by various scholars, about the different forms of Christian Universalism that have arisen throughout Christian history. Especially important are the introductory essay ("Between Heresy and Dogma") and the essays on Elhanan Winchester and George MacDonald. This is a handy reference book, and a good primer for the history of Christian Universalism and some of the key concepts surrounding it.

[Matt Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthwhile read

An amazing book filled with the promised hope of salvation. A worthy read for those exploring the doctrine of universal salvation or who want to trace the development of the doctrine throughout history.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great compilation which helped to differentiate streams of universalist thought. Some chapters were a bit dry, but it was great overall.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Thought provoking and well worth the read. The middle chapters begin to get redundant, as we see arguments repeated in slightly different ways, but overall a terrific compilation of Christian universalistic thought.

[Amy Hughes]

Read the chapter on Origen and Gregory of Nyssa.